After many delays and a growing wave of hype, Promising Young Woman is ready to stir up a storm in the UK. Cancelling its theatrical release so it can be with you before its big Oscar weekend - where it is nominated in five categories - writer-director Emerald Fennell tackles rape culture, grief and complicity in her blistering feature debut starring the incomparable Carey Mulligan.
Cassandra, haunted by tragedy, takes revenge on predatory men who cross her path, and those who let their behaviour go unchecked. An angry film that crackles with rage, Promising Young Woman has an awful lot on its mind. Uninterested in subtlety and unbothered by offending, this character and society study disguised as an accessible revenge thriller seeks to explore rape, culpability and trauma, and if you're not uncomfortable, you're not paying attention.
With a cotton candy-coloured exterior concealing the darker heart and subject matter, Fennell's bubblegum aesthetics serve Promising Young Woman extremely well, a smart decision that cultivates a tonally varied and visually stylish piece of filmmaking. With startling directorial sensibilities in her debut effort, including a decision to cut the audio to that of a tape recording during the film's climactic moment, Fennell establishes herself as a creative with a unique vision and real promise. Armed with an eclectic, pop-leaning soundtrack that deserves to be considered as one of the finest collections in some time (featuring a number of brilliantly and effectively reworked popular tracks) as well as a killer hair, make-up and costume department, every individual element enriches the Promising Young Woman experience, making it rather unforgettable one.
A well-observed screenplay that echoes back decades of "not all men" and "he's a nice guy" defences with a satirical, jet black slant, Fennell's finger is firmly on the cultural pulse with a timely script unafraid of holding back. While it's not the most groundbreaking depiction of either feminism or sexual assault, and occasionally features a lapse or two in logic that overlooks some potentially fruitful topics that would give the film an additional edge, when those punches land, they do so with such force you find yourself taken aback. With particularly well-written dialogue, it should also be commended for revitalising important conversations and instigating necessary self-reflection.
Carey Mulligan is a force, adding another brick in the wall that is her impressive filmography. Sensational while never feeling sensationalised, Mulligan's disdain palpably simmers - never reaching the shattering explosion that less-skilled performers may blindly chase. Instead, Mulligan's matter-of-fact dialogue and deadpan delivery convey a character more gradually consumed by grief, a far more interesting and complex approach to watch unfold - and, likewise, a more devastating one to witness unravel. It is a strong crop of supporting actors around her, but this is the star vehicle Mulligan has always deserved - and she truly excels.
Don't be deceived by its pop confectionary visuals, for Promising Young Woman is more than a disposable sugar rush of a film -- it's a provocative, enraged, cathartic and devastating film taking a sledgehammer to the zeitgeist. Its tonal shifts mean it isn't the most sophisticated piece but when a film has a message it so passionately wants to convey, is sophistication important? While it's not as glass-shattering as some have suggested, Promising Young Woman is an unforgettable experience with an enthralling performance from Carey Mulligan at its pitch black, colourfully decorated heart.